Contra on GBA, difficult and intense as it should be. The levels from the original Alien Wars are well reproduced. A demanding run and gun that satisfies genre fans.
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Category
Action2 players12+
Co-op
Description
GBA adaptation of the run and gun Contra III: The Alien Wars, developed and published by Konami in Japan in November 2002. Bill Rizer and Lance Bean repel an alien invasion in a devastated future across six levels mixing horizontal side-scrolling and top-down stages. Five different weapons including flamethrower and lightning, titanic bosses, extreme gameplay intensity and two-player co-op via link cable. Typical Contra franchise difficulty.
Japanese edition of Contra Advance, released as Contra Hard Spirits in February 2002, ahead of the Western versions. It is the worldwide debut of Konami's GBA remix of Contra III, an asset for first-edition hunters. Notably, this Japanese version keeps English in-game text, a quirk that sets its local packaging apart on the import collector market.
Memorable bosses
An explosive distillation drawn from the 16-bit entries, this assault lines up colossal guardians: armored helicopters, articulated mechs and swarming alien masses. All-directional fire and razor-precise dodging chain in a deluge of explosions. Bigger and snappier than ever, these standoffs keep the jubilant excess that built the series' reputation, controller clenched.
Is Contra Hard Spirits still worth playing in 2026?
A GBA adaptation of Contra III: The Alien Wars, this Contra Advance carries Konami's demanding run-and-gun, where Bill and Lance repel an alien invasion across snappy levels and imposing bosses. The precise eight-way shooting and the frantic pace stay a joy, even if some top-down stages, borrowed from another entry, divide. The difficulty stays tough. An excellent old-school action shooter, worth recommending to fans of the genre and beefy challenge on the move.
